Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Of course, having a day job ensures money is coming into the house. Got to pay the bills. But I talk with numerous people every day. Mostly men. It is an industry that men thrive in. Construction, in particular, waste water treament plants and water lines. Anyway, being in my current job for nearly fifteen years, I have several customers I've known for the same amount of time. A good number know that I write romance and all who've asked know my book is coming out October 18. I don't beat them over the head with updates. I do know how to act professional.

But by having a job where I talk with people in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Arizona, and with my prior territories in Nebraska, Colorado, Montana, and Utah and splatters in Massachuetts and Wisconsin, my name is known. So let's say a customer of mine who I never really said anything about my writing sees my name on a book. It would make him (or her, there are few women I work with) curious for sure. Will he buy it? Maybe not. It is a romance. But maybe he'll mention it to his wife, girlfriend, sister or mom. They will become curious and maybe buy. Or let's say someone who I use to work with at my other job (twenty years there, I was five when I started working) see my book. The name sounds familiar. Have they read a book by me before?

And I'm one of the notaries in my office. So someone in almost every state in the Union has seen my name.

Heavens, I use to work in the export department in the other company. So again my name is floating around the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Canada. Then I use to work with a company in England and Ireland importing valves. I did get around.

I guess being married to the same man is paying off too. Same last name all these years.

Yep. That all powerful name recognition. It will come in handy. Well, I hope it does.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Wow! I think this is the longest I've gone and not blog something. Sorry about that. Time slipped away. Anyway, a sweet lady emailed me a couple days ago and said I should join Avon Impulse Author's loop. They have a loop? I was surprised and happy. So yesterday I did and what a nice group. Lots of info being passed back and forth.

In the group info on the side, it shows how many members are in that YAHOO loop. Guess what number I was? If you've been reading my blog for long you'll know the answer. Yep! Number 13. LOL!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

It's time for me to make a change. Again. I started this blog August 2008, posting nearly every day. Then at the beginning of this year, I slacked off somewhat as I wanted to save my writing for, well, writing. No. I don't plan to give up my blog. But I will use it for more news worthy posts. And in the meanwhile, most of my odds and ends info will be found on FaceBook. So click here and go to FaceBook and "like" me so you can chat with me and get more information about my writing process and current news about my books.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Cynthia Eden had a problem with someone (I believe was a young girl) who took one of her books and changed the names and made it first person instead of third, and published it as their own on a fanfic website. There are some dumb people out there. If they don't call it their own, they make copies and send to all their friends free. Both are stealing.Click here to read her blog about it.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

You know, I'm not sure if I should be relieved or worried that nothing funny has happened to me in a long while. Hmmm, maybe happy. For when it does, I'm usually the one with the red face.

Oh, this didn't happen recently (see sentence above) but a few years ago, my boss at the time sent me an email telling me what a good job I had done on a project. So in response, I sent back an email trying to sound modest and all, and said, "Shucks. Thanks."

Later, I went back to save it and decided to read it again. As plain as day, I had mistyped and wrote, "Sucks. Thanks." She didn't say a word. Thank goodness most people can read between the lines.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

I know that in traditional publishing that it takes much longer to go through the process of getting a book released. My friend, Christy, had to wait two years before her first book came out. And me, it will be only five months.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Today, I noticed my website email address wasn't set up in my MicroSoft Outlook. That's twice it disappeared off there. What the heck is going on? If you sent me an email through my website, I'm sorry I haven't answer. Last time it happened, I had an agent ask for material because she liked my website. Yes. It does happen.

If you're wondering, no, she didn't offer representation. That's okay as I wasn't really interested in having her as an agent though I wouldn't have turned down the opportunity at the time. But she was only eighteen. Yep. That's right. I prefer an experienced one with contacts. I do wish her well. I'm sure she'll be great one day with the ambition she's already shown.

[added: OH MY GOODNESS! I had 131 emails. I had forgotten that one of the loops I'm on, I had set up that account to receive the emails.]

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

After four local women are found dead from a new designer drug, Arthur Ryker orders his mercenary organization, The Circle, to find the source, a mysterious figure called the Wizard.

When Marie Beltane was a child, she had been sold for drugs by her parents to a mad man. Now he’s dead and she’s determined to prove she’s worthy of more and goes on a fact finding mission to stop the killings. Things go wrong. She’s injected with the same drug.

Ryker struggles with his failure to protect Marie from the world as well as himself. He becomes reckless during his search for the antidote and is captured by a new evil. Now he must become the monster he always feared to save the woman he always loved.

Monday, August 1, 2011

I received good news today. My editor loves the action in the first chapter of my second book. I'm thrilled. Was I worried? Oh, yeah. You betcha!

Hooking a reader in the first few paragraphs is so important. Sure I could start off with action in the first paragraph. Probably will do that in the third book. I already have a scene in mind.

I enjoy showing a character's...well...character. Showing a little of what they're about. Like Olivia in CIRCLE OF DESIRE, my first book coming out 10/18. She's cold, calculating but you see small glimpses of her vulnerability, her realization of what she'd become. She ignores the warning signs and moves forward and comes to regret her reckless behavior. While Collin appears cold and calculating as she is, he has a hard time maintaining that persona with her, and he sees the abused little girl inside.

In my second book, Ryker is shown to be a man with a painful past. The visible scars are matched by the ones inside. He struggles to protect the woman he loves from the world as well from himself. Oh, yeah. Tortured heroes make the best stories.

About Me

Carla Swafford loves romance novels, action/adventure movies and men, and her books reflect that. Plus she's a rare creature in the Deep South, she loves hockey. Carla's married to her high school sweetheart and lives in Alabama.